Letters to the Editor: Entitlements, Food Labeling, Aging

Eshman on Entitlements

I was surprised and disappointed with what I had just read, Rob Eshman (“Entitled,” Oct. 19). You had written a beautiful article on the virtues of entitlements when suddenly you chose to take a gratuitous swipe at Bernie Sanders. You implied that he was one of those “leftie-zombie-Democrats” who obstruct bipartisan solutions. Don’t you know that Bernie Sanders is a leader in the fight to protect these very entitlements from the uncompromising Republican drive to devour them?

When the time comes for people your age to receive their Social Security, it will not be Ed Koch they’ll be thanking.

Henry Weiss
Los Angeles

Rob Eshman is right on with his excellent column about the importance of entitlements.

One of this nation’s greatest entitlement programs was the GI Bill, which enriched our country by sending hundreds of thousands of veterans to college. No one who accepted the GI Bill should be against entitlements or government help of any type.

Martin A. Brower
Corona del Mar

Rob Eshman’s article was an intriguing one, although it offered more rhetoric than actual solutions, if any.  

Eshman stated: “The Hebrew word for entitlement is ‫‬ זכאות — zcha’ut. In English, entitlement carries an almost wholly negative connotation. … People who feel entitled annoy us.” ‬‬‬‬‬

Maybe the word entitlement “carries an almost wholly negative connotation” because it is written in Birkat ha-Mazon (grace after meals): “… and please HaShem, our God, do not make us dependent upon gifts from the hands of man, and not upon their loans …”

I would rather go with the word gemilut chasadim for entitlements, which tilts the merit of giving, zcha’ut, toward the giver, rather than as an obligation on the giver that the taker feels he/she is entitled to.  

Danny Bental
Tarzana

How Safe Is Genetically Engineered Food?

To the delight of those of us who support Prop. 37, the truth-in-labeling measure, opponent Norman Lavin actually reaffirmed our position by stating it’s safer to eat food in which the ingredients are known (“Should Genetically Engineered Food Be Labeled?” Oct. 5). That is all we’re asking. Thanks to
Dr. Lavin for making that point.

Aric Zoe Leavitt
Valley Village

Aging Is Like a Playground Teeter-Totter

At age 87, I deal with that playground effort to maintain balance. On one side are the losses that are an inevitable part of aging. Family and friends die, physical prowess seem to disappear at an alarming rate. Exciting projects are fewer, and my creativity has dimmed. In the physical arena, the first to go was skiing, and with balance uncertain and increasing eye problems, there is no more tennis, and even bicycle riding is too risky. So I console myself with a stationary bike, which is less dramatic but at least won’t tip over. This slow decline is the down side of my teeter-totter.

On the other side are many positive aspects of aging. The pace is slower, and what I don’t get done in the next hour I can do later.  I now read more, including novels that I once felt were a waste of time. I find I am more aware of so many elements in my life that I just took for granted during my “productive” years, when my focus was on doing, on accomplishing, with little time for playing and no time for reflection. The pace was frenetic and there was little appreciation for the many blessings in my life. Now perhaps it is the recognition that the clock is counting down, that the number of days left are dwindling and there is an end to this game. I kiss my wife more often, call my kids more frequently, and find the pace of a dinner and movie to be a more complete experience. In reflecting on my life I feel satisfied that I did the best I could with the talent that was given to me. I now find  that mentoring younger people is not only age appropriate, it is rewarding, enjoyable, and I feel fortunate to have those relationships. I am still involved with several projects that were once such a major part of my life, and while I still care, I no longer want  leadership roles and am happy to just be a member of the team.

So, at age 87, I am on my teeter-totter, balancing the ups and downs. Coping with what has gone, appreciating what is still here, what is new, and looking forward to each day.

Dick Gunther
Los Angeles

Correction

An article about AIDS Walk Los Angeles (“Israel for a Cure Participates in AIDS Walk,” Oct 19) mistakenly said Congressman Brad Sherman stopped by the Israel team’s meeting station. In fact, it was Congressman Howard Berman. In addition, the name of AIDS Walk participant Drew Michelman was misspelled.